Goa State Industries Association (GSIA), the apex body of the industries in Goa, fully supports the Government on the initiative to introduce app-based taxi services in Goa. We feel that introduction of app-based taxi service aggregators is the only solution to end the woes of the travelling public.
We understand that the government has given a subsidy of Rs. 11,000/- per taxi to install the digital meters and the taxi operators have kept these meters non-functional. We urge the Government not to succumb to the pressure tactics of the taxi unions and instead adopt a long-term solution to have seamless and convenient mode of travel.
It is a known fact that the taxi operators in the absence of digital meters and monitoring of taxi fares are fleecing the tourists as well as the locals by overcharging with arbitrary fares. This has brought a bad name to Goa, at national and international level, as a preferred tourist destination. Goa lacks reliable public transport and, therefore, there is an urgent need for some affordable transport service if the Government wants to promote tourism.
We have experienced that whenever a client or supplier of the industry comes to Goa, he complains of being overcharged by the taxi operators. Also if our client/supplier stays in some hotel, the industry representative is not allowed to go and pick him up by the taxi operators. This cannot happen in any democratic country where people should have the right to choose their own mode of transport. However, the industry will definitely support if the taxi operators in Goa launch their own app-based taxi aggregator.
